‘It does happen here’: Calls to address police brutality in Australia

Dungay jnr, a 26-year-old Dunghutti man from Kempsey who died in Long Bay jail after being restrained face down and sedated. Both men’s final words, captured on camera, were: ‘‘I can’t breathe’’.

Black Lives Matter rallies are being held across Australia this week, with police conduct under renewed scrutiny following the release of the video showing a police officer kicking the legs out from underneath an Aboriginal teenager and pinning him to the ground during an arrest in Surry Hills on Monday.

The boy’s family have called for charges to be laid against the constable. They said the force used on the 16-yearold was ‘‘unnecessary and irresponsible’’ and they were feeling a mix of ‘‘anger and frustration’’.

The teenager cannot be named due to legal reasons. Family members did not provide names to media to ensure their privacy. ‘‘We want to be able to develop better relationships between the police and the youth of our community, and this won’t happen if we allow officers to feel they are entitled to abuse us without facing proper consequences,’’ the boy’s sister said.

‘‘This police officer must be charged so we don’t have to deal with another incident like this and I truly hope this is a turning point within our community and the police.’’

Karly Warner, chief executive of the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service, said: ‘‘Incidents like this are not isolated.’’

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said the footage showed Australia had a ‘‘long way to go in our country’’, while NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said he was concerned about the officer’s conduct.

– Nine